Judging by recent polls, there is a reasonable chance that Israel’s next government will be controlled by the some of the most radical elements ever to populate Israeli politics, with Knesset member Itamar Ben Gvir leading the pack. Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to whom Ben Gvir owes much of his political rise, is now dependent on the head of the Jewish Power party for his potential comeback in the Nov. 1 elections.

Ben Gvir is running on one ticket with the Religious Zionism Party, led by Bezalel Smotrich. Polls show the party winning 14 Knesset seats out of 120, almost three times the number predicted for the Labor Party, and two or three seats more than the National Unity alliance led by two former military chiefs (Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Gadi Eizenkot), a justice minister (Gideon Saar) and other former senior officers and officials.

Such results for radical Smotrich and Ben Gvir would prompt concerns around the world and in the region, particularly in Washington (American officials have already indicated as much), but the one who should be most troubled is Netanyahu, whom this group will hold hostage.

Netanyahu, fearful of the damage his affiliation with Ben Gvir could cause among less radical voters, has been careful to avoid public appearances with him. At a ceremony Oct. 18 marking the Succoth holiday, Netanyahu’s people made sure Ben Gvir stepped off the stage before Netanyahu got on.